Council sends back engineering quote

Wednesday

Apr 17, 2013 at 10:00 PM

By Patrick StoutMcDonough County Voice

Macomb aldermen balked this week at a proposed $4,000 increase in engineering fees for the city's planned replacement of the sewer lift station along Wigwam Hollow Road and abandonment of the lift station at Western Illinois University's former Lamoine Village apartment complex.

Public Works Director Jason Bainter said the fees for McClure Engineering Associates would be $32,000 instead of $28,000 because of an increase of 400 feet in the width of the target area.

Alderman Tim Lobdell noted that the bulk of the fee, $21,000, would be paid for supervision of the construction sites.

"That's a lot of money," he said.

Mayor Mike Inman encouraged a council vote to send the proposal back to city staff for reconsideration. Inman said he would like the city to try to negotiate a lower fee.

Bainter said the project engineers would need to draw up construction specifications to be bid with alternates because of its anticipated cost. The council approved the solicitation of construction bids.

Also this week, the city council approved two ordinances authorizing special use permits. One would allow Prestige Communications to locate a radio broadcast tower 50-feet high behind its new offices at 1034 W. Jackson St., and the other would allow conversion of The Inselhaus Bed & Breakfast at 538 N. Randolph St. into a boarding house.

Aldermen also accepted a March activity report from Macomb Fire Chief Andy Taylor. Firefighters answered 159 calls, including three building fires, one vehicle fire and 100 requests for emergency medical assistance.

There were 17 buildings inspected last month, and firefighters spent more than 140 hours in training exercises.

Alderman Dave Dorsett noted the death Saturday of community activist Jim Von Kannon. The 74-year old, a retired engineer, had appeared before the city council many times to question city expenses, most notably the multi-million dollar remodeling of the Macomb Water Plant.

Von Kannon also made an unsuccessful bid for election as alderman at-large in 2011. "We need more people engaged like that," Dorsett said of Von Kannon's city council appearances.

Mayor Inman expressed condolences to the Von Kannon family.

"There's no doubt in my mind that his civic engagement was motivated by sincerity," he said.

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